Shaving cream applicator



Nov. 27, 1962 P. soLAlNl sHAvING CREAM APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 12, 1960 IN VEN T0 W ATTURME' Y 3,065,485 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,485 SHAVING CREAM APPLICA'IOR Peter Solaini, 451 W. 47th St., New York, NX. Filed Dec. I2, 1960, Ser. No. '75,358 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-245) This invention relates lto a new and novel bristleless applicator for shaving creams or other face or body lotions. More particularly, the present invention comprises various forms of a rubber or plastic material applicator which is fiat in conguration and either an integral handle member or an adjustable handle member cooperating with slot and gripping means on the applicator to provide different forces and angles of applying a spreading force from the hand to the spreading end of the applicator.

It is well known that when the spreading of lotions to the face or body requires the use of the hand the operation is both wasteful and extremely messy. Brushes have been used for this purpose, however they are not satisfactory in applying an even coating of the lotion or shaving cream to the face or body and, additionally, such brushes are extremely expensive. Also, brushes have only a single degree of stiffness and do not readily adapt themselves to the wide variety of lotions and shaving creams now available to the consumer. It is well known that the consistency of lotions, creams and shaving soaps varies widely depending upon how they are packaged. The gaseous bomb dispensed lotions, creams or shaving soaps are soft and require gentle application to the skin while the creams dispensed in jars or tubes are much thicker and for the sake of economy require an entirely different type applicator.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an applicator that is economical and easy to clean and maintain.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator which may be used with or without the use of a handle, depending upon the desire of the user.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator which is adjustable both in angle of application of applying forces from the hand and in the degree of stiffness desired by the user.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. l is a plan view of one form of applicator.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the applicator of FIG. l taken along line 2 2. thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the applicator shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a View of another modified form` of applicator.

FIG. 5 is a view of a further modified form of applicator.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6 6 of the applicator of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a view of the preferred form of the applicator of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings, there is shown one form of applicator. Reference numeral 1 designates a tapered body member which is caused to be pliable at the end 2 by its tapered configuration as shown in FIG. 2. The body portion l may be formed of a stiff rubber material or if desired of a plastic material. The top end of the body member is thickened both to add rigidity at this point and to afford sufiicient width to receive a handle member 4 by means of a dowel 5 which is permanently secured within the lower end of the handle and fitted by force in a central opening in the thickened portion 3 of the applicator body. The applicator of FIG. l may be used with or without handle 4 depending upon the desire of the user. Toward this end a cord or securing means 6 is provided which is threaded through a hole 7 in the applicator body and a similar hole 8 in the handle member 4. When it is desired to use this applicator without handle 4 the user is afforded a grip by means of the thickened portion 3 of the applicator body.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the applicator of FIG. l. Here, the handle 4 is provided with a fixed dowel 9 having an enlarged head lll. The dowel 9 and enlarged head thereon are sized to have a very snug fit with the complementary shaped slot l1 having a head receiving portion 12. This snug fit assures tight grip of the handle dowel 9 when it is forced to the mid4 position of body member l where the widened opening i3 receives dowel 9.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show further modified forms of the applicator. The modification of FIG. 4 shows a body member 11 which may be made of similar materials as that shown at 1 in FIG. 1. This form of applicator differs in that a spring blade 12 is embedded in the material of body member I1 to add considerable rigidity thereto. Blade l2 extends above the top edge 13 of body member 1l to be received in slot 14 in the securing end 15 of handle 16.

The form of applicator shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4 with the exception that in lieu of spring blade l2 a spring Wire 17 is utilized to afford still another degree of stiffness to the applicator.

Cross-sectional views of both the modifications of FIGS. 4 and 5 are shown lby the details of FIG. 6.

Still another type of applicator is shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Again the body member I8 is formed of materials similar to those of the body members of FIGS. l, 3, 4 and 5. The applicator of FIG. 7, however, differs from the other modifications described in that it has three degrees of adjustability whereby the user can select the proper stiffness desired and/or angle of application. A slot I9 extends across the middle of the top end of the body member I8. Slot 19' is similar in cross-sectional configuration to that of slot ll-IZ of the applicator shown in FIG. 3 and cooperates with the dowel 20' having an enlarged head 2l in the same manner. However, there are provided three openings 22, 23 and 24 for positioning the handle 2,5. When the handle is positioned in opening 22 the applicator has its greatest degree of pliability. A lesser degree os pliability is afforded when the handle is positioned in opening Z3 by virtue of the medium stiffening spring wire 27 which again is embedded in the material of body member 18. Finally, the greatest stiffness is provided when the handle is positioned in opening 24 since embedded spring wire 25 has greater stiffness than wire 27.

While I have illustrated and described various embodiments of applicators, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An applicator comprising a body member having a thickened end portion, and having a slot extending across said thickened portion of said body member, said slot having a narrow outer portion connecting with a wider portion at the base of said slot, the base of said slot being arcuate in cross section, comprising grooves at each end of said slot and confronting grooves at the midportion of said slot, said grooves extending from the outside of said slot to the wider portion at the base of said slot, a handle member having a protruding dowel at one end, said dowel having an enlarged head at its free end, said dowel and head being sized to snugly t said slot whereby said handle is restrained from movement when positioned in the confronting grooves at each end and the midportion of the thickened end of said body member, a first stiffening member embedded in said body member and protruding into the one wider portion of said slot where it can be engaged in a slot extending across the end of the head of said dowel, a second stiiening member embedded in said body member and protruding into another wider portion of said slot where it can be engaged in said slot extending across the end of the head of said dowel Whereby the handle may be positioned at either of the two said stifening members to afford different degrees of pliability of said body member.

2. An applicator comprising a body member having a thickened end portion and having a slot extending along said thickened portion, said slot having a narrow outer portion connecting with a wider portion at the base of said slot, the wider portion of said slot being arcuate in cross section, said thickened portion having confronting grooves at each end of said slot and a confronting groove at the rnidportion of the slot, said grooves extending from the outside of said slot to the Wider portion at the base of said slot, a handle member having a protruding dowel at one end, said dowel having an enlarged head at its free end, said dowel and head being dimensioned to tit snugly in said slot whereby said handle is restrained from movement when positioned in one of the confronting grooves at the ends and rnidportion of the slot.

3. An applicator comprising a body member having a thickened end portion and having a slot extending along said thickened portion, said slot having a narrow outer portion connecting with a wider portion at the base of said slot, the wider portion of the slot being arcuate in cross section, said thickened portion having confronting grooves at each end of said slot and a confronting groove at the one of the end grooves and a second stiiening member embedded in the body member in line with the midportion groove, said'members affording different degrees of pliability to the body member when the handle is inserted in the groove opposite thereto.

1References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 129,393 Hensley Sept. 9, 1941 670,120 Van Tuyl Mar. 19, 1901 1,498,155 Dorr June 17, 1924 2,099,030 Morrison Nov. 16, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,347 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1921 

